Sometimes one can just not remain silent

 I am sick from the bend. I am tired from the "if we can't beat 'em join 'em" attitude. I am sad at the confusion that comes when we let cultural lie siphon into long-standing, unchanging truth. God loving people should be having conversations. No one should be hushing. And what we disagree upon, we should hash out by comparing notes on the word of God and what it all means. There is culture involved, and literary tones. The Bible is one story alone, of an unchanging God through an ever changing, stubborn, needing of love world. If we let go of the reverence of that, then where does our faith come from? Yes, some issues are minor, are personal preference; but some issues change the way we are family, the way we do life, and the way we show grace or hear truth. Maybe we need to decide personally which is which. That will not come from making light of anything but from seeking out all truth. I am big on truth. Ream me out, discuss, change my mind, challenge me, admonish me, let us cry it out.... but do not snuff out the truth. That kills me. That makes my heart long for home. So, give me a reasonable answer, a realistic answer, a studied one. I will challenge you and you will challenge me. Let it not be one of comparison, unless compared with a book that my God was big enough to orchestrate for the good of us all.

stirring up

If church is the small talk of conversation, then home-groups are the deep. A church community is so vital. I have missed this, but found it again recently. When I was young, I remember tons of this. The places where I longed to be with the adults listening in on their conversations about God and life. I came home joy-filled this Sunday, after a potluck and fellowship. With just two of my kids, I stayed late- past the bigger crowd, and enjoyed some deeper conversation. And, the best.... amidst the conversation was the Word of God. I am blessed. Four kids. A church community. A good husband. A Father and Lord who chose me first and is involved in the details of my life. Phew. Blessed. I often feel sad, and far, overwhelmed.... but these moments, they renew my soul.

Hebrews 10:19-25 (English Standard Version)

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The second part of that thought.

These Hollywood Noah type of trends are really bothering me. I get that God can use even the smallest part of something and use it for His good and glory, but that is His business. Our business is to strive for truth. We are not perfect. We cannot be perfect, except for in Him. We will continually not be perfect. We can however reason and choose.
I have heard many views regarding these kind of movies. I don't like them myself. I find that if they are altering the Word of God, then there is too much room for deception. Is that not the greatest evil- not an outright lie, but a truth twisted until we can't recognize where the truth ends and the lie begins. Remember.... why are we not remembering? Why do I even care? I care because we are family- you and I. We are Christian brothers and sisters- something my eldest son finds highly amusing and profound- that I would be his sister in Christ. But, it is true and so I admonish you.... and I hope you admonish me when need be. Can we please just sharpen each other? How can we grow, if not together? We were not meant to grow alone.
I have even heard the opinion that people would not be angered at a book-turned-movie having some differences. But this is our history being changed. Would people not be angered if a president of good standing, of virtue, was depicted as a tortured and violent soul? The bible does present the fact that the days of Noah were violent, but that Noah was a righteous man. And so, I was up late reading Genesis 6, 7, 8, and 9.
You can read it here for the real story: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+6%2C7%2C+8%2C+9&version=ESV

Truth is still truth, God is still God.

I believe that the bible is the infallible Word of God- that is, it is trustworthy, sure, unfailing. I believe my God is powerful. I believe Him to be all-knowing and ever-seeing. And that means to me, that He would be able to bring together a book that speaks about Him and His characteristics and His story. History.
I am dumbfounded right now that some Christians don't seem to believe this. Maybe they are confused or are being deceived slowly by some kind of influences? But, I really don't get it. If you don't believe the Word of God as truth, when it is the actual basis for your whole belief system, then won't that belief system then just implode upon itself and ultimately crumble? Our understanding and application may change, but the basis of truth is our base of truth.
Read and decide for yourself....

2 Timothy 3 (ESV) ~

Godlessness in the Last Days

3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. ² For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, ⁴ treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. ⁶ For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, ⁷ always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. ⁹ But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God
¹⁰ You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, ¹¹ my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. ¹² Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, ¹³ while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it ¹⁵ and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.